Keyless ignition switch



Dec. 26, 1939. E. E. SAUCIER 2,185,066

. I I KEYLESS IGNITION SWITCH Filed July 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Shet lInventor A itorneys D 26, 1939- v E, E. sAuciER I 2,185,066

KEYLESS IGNITION SWITCH Filed JuIy 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InventorPatented Dec. 26, 1939 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEYLESS IGNITIONSWITCH Ewart Ellis Saucier, El Paso, Tex.

Application July 17, 1939, Serial No. 285,011

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a keyless ignition switch, the general objectof the invention being to provide rotary means for adjusting parts to acertain position which is indicated by combination indicia forming partof the switch after which the parts can be adjusted to close the switchso that one must know the combination before he can close the ignitionswitch.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the partscan be reset so as to operate them with a new combination.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed outv in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of an instrument board showing theinvention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a view looking toward the rear part of the switch with thecasing removed.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an edge view with parts in section.

Figure 5 is a view of the rotary cap-like member.

Figure 6 is a view of thering-shaped member in which the cap-shapedmember rotates.

In these drawings the letter A indicates a part of the instrument boardof an automobile or other supporting member and the numeral I indicatesa substantially conical shaped member attached to the member A by a bolt2 passing through a tongue 3 which extends from an edge portion of themember I. A ring-shaped member 4 provided with a bayonet slot 5 has theoppositely extending arms 6 thereon, said arm" and an edge portion ofthe member 4 contacting the underface of the member A and the bolt 2passes through one of the arms 6 and a second bolt I passes through thesupporting member A and the other arm 6. This member 4 forms a circularspace on the underside of the supporting member and'in rear of themember I and a cupshaped member 8 fits in this space and has a centrallyarranged hole 9 therein through which passes an enlarged part of abushing III, a threaded part of which passes through a hole in thesupporting member A and in the central part of the member I, this memberI being provided with an enlarged centrally arranged recess II intowhich the small end of the bushing projects. A nut I2 is threaded onsaid small end of the bushing to .hold it in place and said bushingrotatably holds the cup-shaped member 8 in place as shown in Figure 3.This member 8 is formed with a notch I3 which in one position of themember 8 will register with the inlet portion of the bayonet slot andsaid member 8 is also provided with an ear I I which extends from anedge of the flange of the cup-shaped member. The member I forms a dialwhich is provided with radiating lines I5 which radiate from the openingI I and adjacent the large end of the member I combination characterssuch as the letters I6 are placed opposite the lines I5. A circularmember I1 is movably arranged in the recess II and has a knob I8 at itsouter end. A shank I9 passes through the bushing I I! and has a threadedpart passing through the member IT and its knob I8, this shank beingconnected with the member II by a socketed screw 20 threaded on thatpart of the shank which passes through the knob and engaging the knob sothat when the screw is threaded home the shank is caused to turn withthe knob and the member IT. A washer 2| is threaded on the shank andwhen the screw 20 is tightened the member II with its knob I8 are heldfirmly to the shank so that the shank will turn when the member I1 isturned. The shank is provided with a right angular part I9. The switchis shown at S and includes the contact strip 22 and the contact strip 23insulated from each other as shown with the strip 23 having the angleextension 24 having the block 25 of non-conductive material locatedadjacent the bayonet slot 5 of the member I. A marker or arrow 26 isplaced on the member II, as shown in Figure 1 to cooperate with thedial.

When it is desired to close the ignition switch the knob I8 is pushedinto the recess II and is then turned to the right to cause the part I9of the shank I9 to strike the ear I4 of the cupshaped member 8 and thencontinued turning of the knob will cause the part I9 to turn the member8 in the member 4. This turning movement is continued until the arrow 26comes even with the letter or character I 6 which the operator knows isthe correct stopping'point of the turning movement. This will place thenotch I3 in register with the outer part of the slot 5. Then the knob isturned to the left to a point where the arrow 26 will come opposite acharacter I6 which the operator knows is the second stopping point. Thiswill put the part I9 directly opposite the notch l3 and the outer partof the slot 5. Then the operator pulls the knob outwardly which causesthe part IQ of the shank to enter the notch and the bayonet slot andthen the knob is given a slight turning movement to cause the part I 9'to enter the inner portion of the bayonet slot and this causes the partl9 to strike the block 25 and force the contact points of the members 22and 23 together to close the ignition circuit. This slight additionalturning movement to cause the part [9' to enter the inner portion of thebayonet slot will act to cause the notch Itto move out of register withthe outer portion of the bayonet slot and thus the part I9 is latched inthe inner portion of the slot to positively hold the switch in closedposition and prevent vibration of the automobile or other jars from.causing the parts to move out of switch closing position.

When the switch is to be closed the knob is turned. slightly to causethe part E9 to move out of the inner portion of the bayonet slot andthen the knob is pushed inwardly and turned to place the notch out ofregister with the slot 5.

Thus it will be seen that one must know the combination before he cancorrectly adjust the parts to close the switch and the combination canbe changed whenever it is thought that unauthorized persons know the oldcombination.

The combination is changed in the following manner; The knob is turnedas before described to place the part I9 of the shank in the innerportion of the bayonet slot. Then the screw 20 is loosened with ascrewdriver or other tool to a sufiicient amount to permit the knob andmember IT to turn relative to the shank. Then the knob is turned to theright which causes the part E9 of the shank tomove back into the outeror perpendicular part of the slot and into the notch l3. This preventsfurther movement of the shank but the knob is turned further to theright until the arrow stops at some new character. This new character orletter will match up the slot and notch I3 for a new combination. Thenthe screw 26 is tightened to connect the shank with the knob and thenthe number of letters between the former right and left turn charactersor letters are counted. Then count as many letters to left from the newright turn letter and it will give the new left turn letter orcharacter.

A casing 30 covers the parts on the rear of the supporting member and isheld in place by the bolts 2 and 1 and the casing maybe provided with ahinge 3|.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changesmay be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

invention, what is 1. In a device of the class described, a supportingmember, a dial member on one face of the supporting member having acentrally arranged recess therein, a knob equipped rotary member in therecess, a shank connected with the rotary member and slidably androtatably supported in the supporting member, a ring-shaped member onthe other face of the supporting member and having a bayonet slottherein, a cup-shaped member fitting in the ring-shaped member androtatably mounted on the supporting member and having a notch therein,and a projection thereon, said shank having a bent part for engaging theprojection when the rotary member is moved outwardly and rotated, rotarymovef ment of the shank to a certain position placing the notch in thecup-shaped member opposite the bayonet slot after which the rotarymember is manipulated to place the bent part of the supporting member, asubstantially conical--' shaped dial member fastened to one face of thesupporting member, said dial member having a centrally arrangedrecesstherein, a knob equipped rotary member rotatably and slidablyarranged in the recess and having a marker thereon for cooperating withthe dial part for forming a combination assembly, a. ring-shaped memberattached to the opposite sideof the sup porting member and having abayonet slot therein, a cup-shaped member rotatably arranged in thering-shaped member and rotatably supported from the supportingmember-and having a notch therein and a projection on its edge part, a

shank adjustably connected with the knobequipped member and. slidablyandrotatably supported in the supporting member and having a bent end forengaging the projection and also for entering the notch and the bayonetslot when the same are brought together by rotary movement of thecup-shaped member by the bent part of the shank, a switch closed bytheentrancev of the bent part of the shank into the bayonet slot.

EWART ELLIS SAUCIER.

